Car Window Glass Assembly

ABSTRACT

A car window glass includes a glass plate having a conductor layer, a connection terminal, and a power line. The connection terminal includes metal-plate first and second join parts joined to the conductor layer via the first and second solder layers, a metal-plate bridge section connected to the first and second join parts and spaced apart from the conductor layer, and a fixing part for fixing the power line to a bridge section main surface. The power line extends from the fixing part along a glass plate main surface, and the side opposite of the side facing the glass plate main surface is free of the bridge section, and the starting point of the power line extending from the fixing part is positioned in the upper direction of a virtual line connecting the center portions of the first and second join parts with each other.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a car window glass assembly formed byjoining a conductor layer having a predetermined pattern of a car windowglass plate formed with, on the main surface thereof, the conductivelayer to a connection terminal via lead-free solder layers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conductor layer for forming an antenna line and a heat wire to removefogging on glass is formed on the main surface of a car window glassplate by, for example, silver print. The conductor layer is soldered tothe terminal seat of a connection terminal, and the connection terminalis connected to various elements and a power source by power lines viaharnesses. Recently, a lead-free solder material used for soldering hasbeen required, and the use of a lead-free solder containing indiumhaving a small influence on stress given to a glass plate and having thesame flexibility as lead solder has been proposed, and a car windowglass assembly has been proposed in which, by using the solder material,the connection terminal is connected to the conductor layer via joinportions formed of a pair of solder layers having an intervaltherebetween (see, for example, patent documents 1 to 4).

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT(S) Patent Document(s)

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication 2014-096198

-   Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication    2014-509944-   Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Publication    2016-500575-   Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Application Publication    2016-052684

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problem(s) to be Solved by the Invention

Since the lead-free solder containing indium has flexibility, aftersoldering the connection terminal to the conductor layer, or when thecar window glass assembly is subjected to a heat cycle test, a problem,such as occurrence of crack on the glass plate and the conductive layer,hardly occurs. On the other hand, joining strength in case where tensilestress by a power line is applied to solder join portions isinsufficient. A car window glass assembly needs to have quality so as topass not only the heat cycle test but also a heat soak test inaccordance with “DIN EN ISO 16750-4-K at section 5.1.2.2”. Inparticular, it is preferable to pass the heat soak test defined byGerman Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA). The heat soak testdefined by the VDA is one in which the solder join portions are setunder a temperature environment of 105° C., and while applying a voltageof 14 V to the conductor layer, the power line connected to theconnection terminal is pulled in the direction vertical to the mainsurface of the glass plate with a load of 10 N for 96 hours. This testis one of standardized heat soak tests which is carried out under asevere condition.

However, it is difficult to pass the heat soak test defined by the VDAby the car window glass assembly equipped with the solder join portionsmade of the indium-containing lead-free solder. The cause of this can beconsidered that the melting point of the indium-containing lead-freesolder is a low temperature of approximately 130° C., and when a tensileload is applied to the solder join portions in the direction vertical tothe solder layers under a temperature environment of 105° C., by creepfatigue (the phenomenon in which, by applying a constant load to anobject, the object is deformed over time) of the solder layers, thejoining strength of the solder join portions deteriorates.

In a car window glass assembly equipped with solder join portions eachmade of an indium-containing lead-free solder which connect a connectionterminal connected with a power line with a conductor layer formed on aglass plate main surface, an object of the present invention is toprovide one which passes the heat soak test defined by the VDA byreducing tensile stress applied to the solder join portions of theconnection terminal.

Means for Solving the Problem(s)

A car window glass assembly of the present invention includes:

a car window glass plate in which a conductor layer having apredetermined pattern is formed on a glass plate main surface;

a connection terminal connected to the conductor layer via a pair ofjoin portions formed of a first solder layer and a second solder layereach made of an indium-containing lead-free solder; and

a power line fixed to the connection terminal,

wherein the connection terminal includes:

-   -   a first join part made from a metal plate, and joined to the        conductor layer via the first solder layer;    -   a second join part made from a metal plate, and joined to the        conductor layer via the second solder layer;    -   a bridge section made from a metal plate, and connected to the        first join part and the second join part so as to be spaced        apart from the conductor layer; and    -   a fixing part for fixing the power line to a bridge section main        surface of the bridge section, and

wherein the power line extends from the fixing part along the glassplate main surface, and a starting point of the power line extendingfrom the fixing part (that is, the distal end of a non-fixed part of thepower line extending from the fixing part) is located at a position inan upper direction of a virtual line connecting a center portion of thefirst join part with a center portion of the second join part.

Since a part of the power line which extends from the fixing part isfree of the connection terminal, a mode in which the power line ispulled in the direction vertical to the bridge section may occur. Thismode is one of tensile modes, in which the strongest tensile stress isgenerated to the first solder layer and the second solder layer. In theheat soak test defined by the VDA, a mode in which the power line ispulled in the direction vertical to the bridge section is also included.By providing the above structure, the car window glass assembly of thepresent invention can pass the heat soak test defined by the VDA.

Effect(s) of the Invention

According to the present invention, when the power line becomes a stateof being pulled in the direction vertical to the main surface of theglass plate, stress applied to the connection terminal is dispersed, andthereby the local generation of a strong stress can be suppressed.Consequently, it is possible to provide a car window glass assemblyequipped with solder join portions each made of an indium-containinglead-free solder, which can pass the heat soak test defined by the VDA.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a drawing to explain a main part in a typical example of a carwindow glass assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a drawing to explain a connection terminal in detail.

FIG. 3 is a drawing to explain a first derivative example of theconnection terminal.

FIG. 4 is a drawing to explain a second derivative example of theconnection terminal.

FIG. 5 is a drawing to explain a third derivative example of theconnection terminal.

MODE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION

A car window glass assembly of the present invention will be explainedwith reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a drawing to explain a mainpart in a typical example of a car window glass assembly 1 of thepresent invention, main part in which a power line is fixed to aconnection terminal. FIG. 2 is a drawing to explain the details of atypical example of the connection terminal to be used in the glassassembly 1. FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are drawings to respectivelyexplain first, second and third derivative examples of the connectionterminal in the category of the present invention.

The car window glass assembly 1 includes a car window glass plate 2 inwhich a conductor layer 3 having a predetermined pattern is formed on aglass plate main surface 21, a connection terminal 5 connected to theconductor layer 3 via a pair of join portions formed of a first solderlayer 41 and a second solder layer 42 each made of an indium-containinglead-free solder, and a power line 6 fixed to the connection terminal.

The connection terminal 5 includes: a first join part 51 made from ametal plate, which is joined to the conductor layer 3 via the firstsolder layer 41;

a second join part 52 made from a metal plate, which is joined to theconductor layer 3 via the second solder layer 42;

a bridge section 53 made from a metal plate, which is connected to thefirst join part 51 and the second join part 52 so as to be spaced apartfrom the conductor layer 3; and

a fixing part 54 for fixing the power line to a main surface 531 of thebridge section 53.

The power line 6 extends from the fixing part 54 along the glass platemain surface 21, and a starting point 60 of the power line 6 extendingfrom the fixing part 54 is located at a position in the upper directionof a virtual line 7 connecting a center portion 71 of the first joinpart with a center portion 72 of the second join part.

Here, the upper direction indicates a direction separating from theglass plate main surface 21 in the vertical direction, and this verticaldirection and the virtual line 7 intersect with each other. In theconnection terminal 5, the width of the virtual line 7 is 4 mm, andbased on this, the position of the starting point 60 is set.

In addition, in order to configure the car window glass assembly 1 whichis capable of easily passing a heat soak test defined by the VDA, thestarting point 60 may be located at a position in the upper direction ofa middle point 73 of the virtual line 7 connecting the center portion 71of the first join part with the center portion 72 of the second joinpart. In this case, the diameter of the middle point 73 is 2 mm, and theposition of the starting point 60 is set. The middle point 73 ispositioned in the middle of the virtual line 7, and in each of FIG. 2 toFIG. 5, an arrow showing a direction extending from the middle point 73as a starting point toward the starting point 60 is drawn. In the heatsoak test, the power line 6 is pulled in the direction shown by thisarrow.

The glass plate 2 is equipped with the glass plate main surface 21 and aglass plate end surface 22. The glass plate 21 may have a curved shapeso as to be used as a car window. In addition, it may have an areaaccording to the shape of a car. Although the thickness of the glassplate 2 is not particularly limited, it is properly selected within therange of 0.3 mm to 6 mm. As a material to form the glass plate 2, a sodalime glass defined by ISO 16293-1 can be used. Even if the glass plate 2is non-reinforced glass, the glass assembly 1 of the present inventionsatisfies the heat soak test defined by the VDA and a heat cycle testwhich is verified in the following examples. Therefore non-reinforcedglass may be used as the glass plate 2. In addition, as the glass plate2, laminated glass including non-reinforced glass may be used. Moreover,as the glass plate 2, not only non-reinforced glass, but also chemicallyreinforced glass may be used. Here, the non-reinforced glass in thepresent invention is one having, on the surface of the glass plate, acompressive stress of 50 MPa or less, which is formed by cooling theglass plate, which is bent by being heated in a furnace, in accordancewith a temperature profile in a furnace, or a glass plate having, on thesurface thereof, no compressive stress.

In the heat cycle test, it is preferable to pass a heat cycle testdefined by German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) inaccordance with “DIN EN ISO 16750-4-H at section 5.3.1.2”. The heatcycle test defined by the VDA is one in which the solder join portionsare set under a temperature cycle environment of −40° C. to 105° C. (60cycles in total), and in a step in which temperature is raised and keptat 105° C., a voltage of 14 V is applied to the conductor layer.

The conductor layer 3 has a wiring pattern in accordance with purposesof, for example, an antenna and a heating element, and is equipped witha bus bar, which is electrically connected to the connection terminal 5,and a connection terminal part. The conductor layer 3 is preferably onemade of a sintered body of silver or silver alloy and glass frit. Forexample, this sintered body can be formed in such a manner that aso-called silver paste containing particles of silver or silver alloy,glass frit and organic oil is applied to the glass plate main surface 21with a method, such as screen printing, and then is heated at 500-700°C. In addition, the car window glass assembly 1 may be additionallyequipped with a ceramic layer having, for example, black color betweenthe conductor layer 3 and the glass plate surface 21. The color ceramiclayer is preferably one made of a sintered body of pigment and glassfit. For example, this sintered body can be formed in such a manner thata so-called color ceramic paste containing particles of pigment, glassfrit and organic oil is applied to the glass plate main surface 21 witha method, such as screen printing, and then is heated at 500-700° C.

Each of the first solder layer 41 and the second solder layer 42 is madeof an indium-containing lead-free solder. The melting point of thissolder is a low temperature of 115° C. to 155° C., and it is thereforepreferable particularly in case where the glass plate 2 is laminatedglass, because a heating temperature at the time when the connectionterminal 5 is soldered to the conductor layer 3 can be easily set to atemperature at which the thermal destruction of thermoplastic resin,such as PVB, used as an intermediate film of the laminated glass doesnot occur. When considering this, as the lead-free solder, one of whichthe melting point is 120° C. to 140° C., preferably one of which themelting point is 125° C. to 135° C. may be used. As an example of thelead-free solder, one can be cited which is made of an alloy containing5-95 mass % of indium, 5-95 mass % of tin, 0-10 mass % of silver, 0-10mass % of antimony, 0-10 mass % of copper, 0-10 mass % of zinc and 0-10mass % of nickel. In addition, as a further preferable example, one canbe cited which is made of an alloy containing 65-95 mass % of indium,5-35 mass % of tin, 0-10 mass % of silver, 0-3 mass % of antimony, 0-5mass % of copper, 0-5 mass % of zinc and 0-5 mass % of nickel.

To surely perform the joining between the conductor layer 3 and theconnection terminal 5, each of the joining area of the conductor layer 3and the first solder layer 41 and the joining area of the conductorlayer 3 and the second solder layer 42 is 12 mm² to 48 mm², preferably18 mm² to 36 mm². In addition, the area of each of the main surfaces ofthe respective first join part 51 and the second join part 52 is 12 mm²to 48 mm², preferably 18 mm² to 36 mm². In addition, its shape may be arectangular shape or, if the required solder joining area is ensured, itmay be an elliptic shape, a circular shape or a polygonal shape. Thejoining of the first and second solder layers 41 and 42, the conductorlayer 3 and the first and second join parts is achieved by supplyingheat generated from various heat sources to the vicinity of the solderjoin portions. As a heat source, a soldering iron, hot air andresistance welding, which have been conventionally known, can be cited.Specifically, the lead-free solder is melted and adheres to the side ofeach of the first and second join parts in the connection terminal 5,side which faces the glass plate main surface 21, in advance. Afterthat, the joining is achieved in such a manner that, in a state in whichthe connection terminal 5 has been pressed to the glass plate mainsurface, a soldering iron of which the temperature of the iron tip isset at 200-300° C. is brought into contact with and held to the side ofeach of the first and second join parts which opposes to the side facingthe glass pate main surface.

The first join part 51, the second join part 52 and the bridge section53 are each made from a metal plate. As a material of the metal plate,copper, zinc, iron, nickel, tin, chromium, cobalt and chromium can becited, or a metal plate made of an alloy containing two or more elementsmay be used. However, in general, from the point of view of conductivityand easiness of machining, a material, such as copper or brass, havingexcellent conductivity and capable of being easily machined isdesirable. Each of the first join part 51, the second join part 52 andthe bridge section 53 may be one formed by being machined from one metalplate. In addition, the connection terminal 5 may be one formedsubstantially of the first join part 51, the second join part 52 and thebridge section 53. Moreover, the connection terminal 5 may be one formedonly of the first join part 51, the second join part 52 and the bridgesection 53.

In addition, in the bridge section 53, a bridge section main surface isa part parallel to or substantially parallel to the glass plate mainsurface 21, and a side facing the glass plate main surface 21 is definedas a bridge section back-side main surface, and a side opposite of thebridge section back-side main surface is defined as a bridge sectionfront-side main surface 531. Here, the area of each of the main surfacesmay be 96 mm² to 8 mm², preferably 72 mm² to 12 mm². In addition, theshape of each of the main surfaces may be a rectangular or substantiallyrectangular shape. Moreover, the distance between the first join part 51and the second join part 52 may be 16 mm to 4 mm, preferably 12 mm to 6mm.

The bridge section 53 includes a ceiling part 530 equipped with thebridge section main surface, and pier parts 532 connected to therespective first and second join parts 51 and 52. Each of the pier parts532 in the connection terminal 5 shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 has astructure having an inclination from a corresponding one of the firstand second join parts 51 and 52 toward the ceiling part 530 (that is, astructure which is not parallel to the main surface of the glass plate2). In addition to this, the pier parts 532 may be formed extending fromthe respective first and second join parts 51 and 52 in the directionvertical to the main surface of the glass plate 2. Furthermore, thebridge section 53 may have a structure with no pier parts 532. In thiscase, it is preferable to provide the fixing part 54 to the bridgesection front-side main surface 531.

There is a case where the thickness of each of the first join part 51,the second join part 52 and the bridge section 53 affects the heat soaktest. When considering this, the thickness of each of them may be 0.3 mmto 2.0 mm, preferably 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm. Moreover, they may have the samethickness.

The fixing part 54 for fixing the power line 6 is provided to the bridgesection front-side main surface 531 of the ceiling part 530 in thebridge section 53, or to the bridge section back-side main surface onthe opposite side of the bridge section front-side main surface 531. Inthe following, a case where the fixing part 54 is provided to the bridgesection front-side main surface 531 will be explained in detail. A modein which the fixing part 54 is provided to the bridge section back-sidemain surface will be separately explained in detail. The fixing part 54may have a size capable of fixing a front part (in the following,referred to as “distal end part”) from the starting point 60 of thepower line 6. As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, the structure of the fixingpart 54 may be one for fixing the distal end part of the power line 6 bywelding, such as resistance welding and brazing with brazing material,in addition to a structure with which the distal end part of the powerline 6 can be caulked.

As a typical example of a structure with which the distal end part ofthe power line 6 can be caulked, a B-crimp can be cited. The power line6 extends along the glass plate main surface 21. The direction in whichthe power line 6 extends is preferably a direction orthogonal to thevirtual line 7 that is the direction of the glass plate end surface 22.As a material of the power line 6, although copper and aluminum having alow electric resistivity can be cited, copper which is further superiorin electric conductivity and is inexpensive is preferable. In addition,as an example of a covering insulator, one having heat resistance to anassumed use temperature or higher may be used, and vinyl chloride andheat-resistant vinyl can be cited. The diameter of the power line may beset such that a current value which is assumed to flow to a heat wireformed to the main surface of the car window glass plate becomes anallowable current of the power line or lower. However, from the point ofview of the flexibility of the power line, the diameter of the powerline is preferably 1.25 sq. (AWG: 16) to 2.0 sq. (AWG: 14).

in the car window glass assembly 1, caused by the power line 6, tensilestress is applied to the solder join portions between the connectionterminal 5 and conductor layer 3. In the glass assembly 1 of the presentinvention, since the starting point 60 of the power line 6 is located ata position in the upper direction of the virtual line 7 connecting thecenter portion 71 of the first join part with the center portion 72 ofthe second join part, and, moreover, in the power line 6, a side 61opposite of the side facing the glass plate main surface 21 is free ofthe bridge section 53, the tensile stress is generated around thestarting point 60. Consequently, the stress applied to the connectionterminal 5 is dispersed, and thereby the local generation of a strongstress can be suppressed. Therefore, the glass assembly 1 of the presentinvention becomes one having excellent durability against the tensilestress in the solder join portions between the connection terminal 5 andthe conductor layer 3.

Next, a derivative example of the connection terminal in the category ofthe present invention will be explained. FIG. 3 is a drawing showing afirst derivative example of the connection terminal 5. The firstderivative example of the connection terminal 5 differs from the typicalexample of the connection terminal 5 in FIG. 2 in that when viewed fromthe upper side of the connection terminal 5, a cut-out portion is formedto the bridge section 53. Also in this connection terminal 5, the actionexplained in the foregoing paragraph is generated, and the glassassembly 1 using this connection terminal 5 becomes excellent indurability against the tensile stress in the solder join portionsbetween the connection terminal 5 and the conductor layer 3.

FIG. 4 is a drawing showing a second derivative example of theconnection terminal 5. The second derivative example of the connectionterminal 5 differs from the first derivative example of the connectionterminal 5 in FIG. 3 in that the fixing part 54 is provided to thebridge section back-side main surface. In the power line 6, the oppositeside 61 of the side facing the glass plate main surface 21 does not facethe bridge section 53, and is free. Also in this connection terminal 5,the action explained above is generated, and the glass assembly 1 usingthis connection terminal 5 becomes excellent in durability against thetensile stress in the solder join portions between the connectionterminal 5 and the conductor layer 3.

FIG. 5 is a drawing showing a third derivative example of the connectionterminal 5. The third derivative example of the connection terminal 5differs from the second derivative example of the connection terminal 5in FIG. 4 in that when viewed from the upper side of the connectionterminal 5, a cut-out portion is formed only to the bridge section mainsurface. Therefore, in the power line 6, the opposite side 61 of theside facing the glass plate main surface 21 does not face the bridgesection 53, and is free. Also in this connection terminal 5, the actionexplained above is generated, and the glass assembly 1 using thisconnection terminal 5 becomes excellent in durability against thetensile stress in the solder join portions between the connectionterminal 5 and the conductor layer 3.

Each of the second and third derivative example respectively shown inFIG. 4 and FIG. 5 has, as the fixing part 54, a structure with which thedistal end part of the power line 6 can be caulked. In addition to thestructure with which the caulking can be performed, as the fixing part54, each of the second and third derivative examples may have astructure for fixing the distal end part of the power line 6 by welding,such as resistance welding and brazing with brazing material.

EXAMPLE(S)

in the following, Examples of the present invention will be explained inmore detail.

Example 1

First, the main surface of a glass plate 21 (non-reinforced glass with ageneral car window size having a thickness of 2 mm) made from soda limeglass which was produced with a float method was coated with blackceramic paste with screen printing, and then was dried, following whichit was coated with silver paste in a predetermined heat wire circuitpattern shape with screen printing, and then was dried. Next, the glassplate 21 applied with the black ceramic paste and the silver paste washeat-treated, and then a glass plate 2 formed with a conductor layer 3was prepared.

A connection terminal 5 having a shape shown in FIG. 2 which was formedfrom a copper metal plate treated with nickel plating was prepared. Inthis connection terminal 5, a first join part 51, a second join part 52and a bridge section 53 had the same thickness, and the thickness ofeach of them was 0.8 mm. In addition, the shape of each of them was arectangular shape, the distance between the first join part 51 and thesecond join part 52 was 12 mm, the arear of a bridge section front-sidemain surface 531 was 36 mm², and the area of the main surface of each ofthe first join part 51 and the second join part 52 was 24 mm². When themain surfaces of the first join part 51 and the second join part 52which face a glass plate main surface were defined as back surfaces,both of the back surfaces were positioned at the same level, and thebridge section front-side main surface 531 had a parallel relation tothe level, and the main surface 531 was positioned at a height of 2 mmfrom the level.

A B-crimp-type fixing part 54 was provided on the main surface 531, andthe longitudinal direction of the fixing part 54 had an orthogonalrelation to the longitudinal direction of the bridge section 53. Thestarting point in the longitudinal direction of the fixing part 54 was astarting point positioned at a side of the bridge section 53, and theend point thereof was positioned at the middle in the width direction ofthe bridge section 53. In addition, this middle position was a positionlocated in the upper direction of a middle point 73 of a virtual line 7connecting a center portion 71 of the first join part with a centerportion 72 of the second join part.

In a power line 6 made from a copper wire coated with vinyl chloridewhich had a diameter of 2.1 mm, a part where the copper wire was exposedwas fixed to the fixing part 54. When the connection terminal 5 wassoldered to the conductor layer 3, the longitudinal direction of thefixing part 54 had an orthogonal relation to the longitudinal directionof the bridge section 53, and the power line 6 was caulked so as toextend along the glass plate main surface 21. The starting point 60 ofthe power line 6 corresponded to the end point in the longitudinaldirection of the fixing part 54. In addition, in the power line 6, aside 61 opposite of a side facing the glass plate main surface 21 wasfree of the bridge section 53.

A lead-free solder in an amount of 0.2 g which was made of an alloycontaining 75 mass % of indium, 15 mass % of tin, 6 mass % of silver, 1mass % of antimony, 1 mass % of copper, 1 mass % of zinc and 1 mass % ofnickel was soldered to each of the main surfaces on theback-surface-sides of the first join part 51 and the second join part52.

the connection terminal 5 was arranged on a base glass such that thesolder soldered to the connection terminal 5 was disposed between theconnection terminal 5 and the conductor layer 3. Next, a first solderlayer 41 and a second solder layer 42 were formed through the remittingof the solder by the energization heating of the connection terminal 5,and then a sample simulating a car window glass assembly 1 including theconnection terminal 5 connected thereto via a pair of join portionsformed of the first solder layer 41 and the second solder layer 42 wasobtained.

The sample obtained in the present Example was one satisfying the heatcycle test and the heat soak test defined by the VDA.

Example 2

A sample simulating the car window glass assembly 1 was obtained in thesame process as Example 1 except that the connection terminal 5 wasformed so as to have a shape shown in FIG. 3. The connection terminal 5in the present Example had a structure in which a cut-out portion wasformed, when viewed from the upper side of the connection terminal 5,and it was one following the sizes and the positional relation of theparts of the connection terminal 5 in Example 1, except that thestarting point and the end point in the longitudinal direction of thefixing part 54 were positioned at respective sides of the bridge section53. The sample obtained in the present Example was one satisfying theheat cycle test and the heat soak test defined by the VDA.

Example 3

A sample simulating the car window glass assembly 1 was obtained in thesame process as Example 1 except that the connection terminal 5 wasformed so as to have a shape shown in FIG. 4. The connection terminal 5in the preset Example was one following the sizes and the positionalrelation of the parts of the connection terminal 5 in Example 2, exceptthat the fixing part 54 was provided to the bridge section back-sidemain surface. The sample obtained in the present Example was onesatisfying the heat cycle test and the heat soak test defined by theVDA.

Example 4

A sample simulating the car window glass assembly 1 was obtained in thesame process as Example 1 except that the connection terminal 5 wasformed so as to have a shape shown in FIG. 2. The connection terminal 5was one following the sizes and the positional relation of the parts ofthe connection terminal 5 in Example 1, except that the starting point60 of the power line 6 extending from the fixing part 54 was located ata position in the upper direction of the virtual line 7 connecting thecenter portion 71 of the first join part with the center portion 72 ofthe second join part, and was positioned at an end most portion in theline width of the virtual line 7. The sample obtained in the presentExample was one satisfying the heat cycle test and the heat soak testdefined by the VDA.

Comparative Example 1

A connection terminal 5 was prepared which followed the sizes and thepositional relation of the parts of the connection terminal 5 in Example1, except that the starting point and the end point in the longitudinaldirection of the fixing part 54 were positioned at the respective sidesof the bridge section 53 and the starting point 60 was positioned at aside of the bridge section 53. Then, a sample simulating the car windowglass assembly 1 was obtained in the same process as Example 1. Thesample obtained in the present Comparative Example was not onesatisfying the heat soak test defined by the VDA.

Comparative Example 2

A connection terminal 5 was prepared which followed the sizes and thepositional relation of the parts of the connection terminal 5 in Example1, except that the fixing part 54 was provided on the bridge sectionback-side main surface. Then, a sample simulating the car window glassassembly 1 was obtained in the same process as Example 1. In the presentComparative Example, in the power line 6, the opposite side 61 of theside facing the glass plate main surface 21 faced the bridge section 53,and was not free of the bridge section 53. The sample obtained in thepresent Comparative Example was not one satisfying the heat soak testdetermined by the VDA.

EXPLANATION OF SIGNS

1: car window glass assembly

-   2: car window glass plate-   21: glass plate main surface-   22: glass plate end surface-   3: conductor layer-   41: first solder layer-   42: second solder layer-   5: connection terminal-   51: first join part-   52: second join part-   53: bridge section-   530: ceiling part of bridge section-   531: bridge section front-side main surface-   532: pier part of bridge section-   54: fixing part-   6: power line-   60: starting point of power line-   61: side opposite of side facing glass plate main surface 21 in    power line 6-   7: virtual line-   71: center portion of first join part-   72: center portion of second join part-   73: middle point of virtual line 7

1. A car window glass assembly comprising: a car window glass plate inwhich a conductor layer having a predetermined pattern is formed on aglass plate main surface; a connection terminal connected to theconductor layer via a pair of join portions formed of a first solderlayer and a second solder layer each made of an indium-containinglead-free solder; and a power line fixed to the connection terminal,wherein the connection terminal includes: a first join part made from ametal plate, and joined to the conductor layer via the first solderlayer; a second join part made from a metal plate, and joined to theconductor layer via the second solder layer; a bridge section made froma metal plate, and connected to the first join part and the second joinpart so as to be spaced apart from the conductor layer; and a fixingpart for fixing the power line to a bridge section main surface of thebridge section, wherein the power line extends from the fixing partalong the glass plate main surface, and a starting point of the powerline extending from the fixing part is located at a position in an upperdirection of a virtual line connecting a center portion of the firstjoin part with a center portion of the second join part, and wherein adirection in which the power line extends is orthogonal to the virtualline.
 2. The car window glass assembly according to claim 1, wherein, inthe fixing part, the power line is fixed by caulking, brazing orwelding.
 3. The car window glass assembly according to claim 1, whereinthe starting point is located at a position in an upper direction of amiddle point of the virtual line connecting the center portion of thefirst join part with the center portion of the second join part.
 4. Thecar window glass assembly according to claim 1, wherein a thickness ofeach of the first join part, the second join part and the bridge sectionis 0.3 mm to 2.0 mm.
 5. The car window glass assembly according to claim1, wherein the lead-free solder is made of an alloy containing 5-95 mass% of indium, 5-95 mass % of tin, 0-10 mass % of silver, 0-10 mass % ofantimony, 0-10 mass % of copper, 0-10 mass % of zinc and 0-10 mass % ofnickel.
 6. The car window glass assembly according to claim 1, whereinthe glass plate is made from non-reinforced glass.
 7. The car windowglass assembly according to claim 3, wherein the upper direction of themiddle point is a direction vertical to the glass plate main surface.